Ceremonial cacao is the latest craze in Melbourne, a city known for its interesting cuisine and lively coffee culture. Melburnians are warming up to this hearty elixir because of its rich flavour, deep roots in tradition, and abundance of health benefits. This blog will take you on a tour of Melbourne's most beautiful areas in search of the top ceremonial cacao shops, each of which will provide an experience beyond just drinking a hot beverage.
Ancient civilisations held ceremonial cacao in high esteem, but it's more than just a sweet treat. This cup has three functions: it can help you become more mindful, it can help you awaken spiritually, and it can open your heart. Along our journey through Melbourne's ceremonial cacao havens, we will discover how these establishments are bringing ancient rituals into the modern era, building communities, and serving delicious brews.
Sacred Taste
Sacred Taste is a premium cacao company specialising in high-quality, wild-crafted, ethically sourced, and sustainably made cacao products. Their offerings are designed to elevate the mind, body, and soul, emphasising the health benefits and purity of their ceremonial grade cacao. The company prides itself on providing cacao that is not only good for the consumer but also beneficial for the planet, adhering to sustainable and ethical farming methods. Their products are 100% organic, free from chemicals, additives, or preservatives, ensuring a rich, indulgent, and guilt-free experience.
Services offered by Sacred Taste include:
- A range of cacao products, including their best sellers: Ceremony - Ceremonial Cacao, Earth - Original Cacao, Love - Rose Cacao, Vitality - Matcha Mint Cacao, and Fire - Chilli Cacao.
- Special bundles like the Full Flavour Pack, which includes all five flavours and a 66-page Recipe eBook.
- Subscription services offering 10% off on every order.
- Express delivery options for worldwide customers and free shipping on orders above $99 in Australia.
- Secure payment options for a safe shopping experience.
Email: info@sacredtaste.com
Website: https://sacredtaste.com/
Grounded Cup
Grounded Cup, based in Melbourne, Australia, specialises in offering high vibrational Ceremonial-Grade Cacao. Their products are a blend of 100% organic, single-origin, rare indigenous Peruvian ceremonial grade cacao, known for its potent and unique therapeutic properties. This cacao is carefully selected for its authenticity and purity, making it an ideal choice for meditation, connection, awakening, and daily use. It aims to help individuals feel present, improve mental health, and achieve mind-body-spirit balance. Grounded Cup's offerings are not just limited to cacao; they also provide a range of related products and accessories.
Services and products offered by Grounded Cup include:
- A variety of Ceremonial Grade Cacao products, such as GC 250G Ceremonial Cacao Paste Pre Chopped and GC 600G Ceremonial Cacao Paste Block.
- Traditional Cacao Drinking Cups (Jicara) and MOLINILLO Whisks for an authentic cacao experience.
- Free shipping on all orders over $150 across Australia, with an option for free pickup in Melbourne.
- A family-owned business model, working with family-run, fair-trade farms in Peru, Brazil, and Columbia.
- A sustainable and ethically sourced product range, ensuring a transparent seed-to-shelf approach.
- Secure checkout for all Ceremonial Cacao products.
Email: hello@groundedcup.com.au
Website: https://groundedcup.com.au/
Soma Cacao
Soma Cacao Australia specialises in multi-award-winning ceremonial cacao, sourced directly from small farms both in Australia and internationally. Their products are celebrated as a superior coffee alternative and are recognised for being one of nature's most nutrient-dense foods. The cacao offered by Soma Cacao is whole-bean, ensuring its potency and natural integrity. This makes it an ideal choice for those seeking health benefits and a heart-opening experience. The company emphasises the ethical and sustainable sourcing of their cacao, with a focus on supporting small farms and indigenous communities.
Key features offered by Soma Cacao include:
- A variety of ceremonial cacao options, including Karkar Island Ceremonial Cacao, Australian Ceremonial Cacao from the Daintree Region and Mission Beach, and Mexican Ceremonial Cacao.
- A Ceremonial Cacao Starter Pack for those new to cacao or wanting to sample different origins.
- The cacao is gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, GMO-free, and vegan, catering to a wide range of dietary preferences.
- Educational content on the benefits of cacao, preparation methods, and recipes through their Soma Journal.
Phone: 0434 246 790
Email: hello@somacacao.com.au
Website: https://somacacao.com.au/
Australian Ceremonial Cacao
Australian Ceremonial Cacao offers a range of Peruvian ceremonial cacao products, known for their rich flavour and various health benefits. These benefits include heightened creativity, improved focus, and a sense of deep connection, making ceremonial cacao a unique and nourishing choice for mind, body, and spirit. The website provides an array of cacao products in different quantities to cater to various needs, along with special bundles that combine cacao with other products like Lucuma powder or storage tins.
Services and products offered by Australian Ceremonial Cacao include:
- Different quantities of Peruvian Ceremonial Cacao, available in 1kg, 500g, and 300g packs.
- Bundles that combine cacao with Lucuma powder or include a cacao storage tin.
- A special offer that includes a mug and cacao bundle.
- Lucuma Powder and various sizes of Cacao Storage Tins for convenient storage and use.
- Free shipping on orders over $100 within Australia.
Phone: 0406 621 700
Email: leena@australianceremonialcacao.com
Website: https://www.australianceremonialcacao.com/
Mother Forager
Mother Forager is an online store that specialises in a variety of cacao-based products. The website emphasises the health benefits of cacao, which include its rich antioxidant content, vitamins, and minerals that promote heart health, boost mood, and enhance energy. Cacao is also recognised for its stress-reducing properties, digestive benefits, and its role in skin and hair care. The website offers a range of cacao products that cater to different preferences and uses, highlighting cacao's potential anti-aging properties and its support for overall well-being.
Products offered by Mother Forager include:
- A selection of cacao products such as Cacao + Rose Ritual Beeswax Candles, Cacao Pod Bracelet, dried Cacao Pods, and Cacao Pod Keychains.
- Organic Cacao Powder with 12% fat content.
- Ceremonial Cacao in various forms.
- Herbal Cacao Tea Blends like EARTH, LOVE, and PEACE.
- Fusion Cacao, IxChel's Mojo Chocolates, Ka'kaw Chinimital Cacao, LavaLove Cacao, and Medicinal Mushroom Melts.
- Molinillo Cacao Whisks for traditional cacao preparation.
- Moonshine Mushroom Cacao and gift cards for versatile gifting options.
Phone: 0405 522 326
Email: mother.forager@hotmail.com
Website: https://motherforager.com.au/
The Holistic Ingredient
The website for The Holistic Ingredient offers a unique product called Ceremonial Cacao, which is available in 200 gm or 500 gm blocks. This cacao is distinct due to its rich antioxidant content and is described as an ideal afternoon pick-me-up. It is stone-ground in small batches in Tasmania and is made from 100% heirloom, organic, and ethically sourced Peruvian cacao beans. Unlike other cacao products, ceremonial cacao is made from the whole bean, ensuring a product that is 100% cacao bean, bursting with antioxidants and flavonoids. This product is particularly noted for its richness and delicious taste, and it can be used in various ways, including in meditation practices as a heart-warming ritual or as a delectable drink. The website suggests blending the cacao with water or milk to create a creamy drink and offers a simple hot cacao recipe for customers.
In terms of services, the website provides:
- Ceremonial Cacao in 200 gm or 500 gm blocks.
- A range of recipes and usage suggestions for the cacao.
- Information on storage and handling of the product.
- Details on shipping costs and policies, including free standard shipping for orders over $100 in Australia and various rates for New Zealand.
- A 14-day return policy for faulty or damaged products, with certain conditions for cosmetics and skincare products.
Email: amy@theholisticingredient.com
Website: https://www.theholisticingredient.com/
Gluten Free Foods
The website Gluten Free Foods offers the product "Sacred Taste - Ceremony Ceremonial Grade Organic Cacao 250g" for $36.00. This ceremonial grade cacao is made with 100% pure heirloom Criollo cacao mass, ensuring a high-quality, authentic experience. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Sacred Taste blends raw Amazonian cacao with plant-based whole-food ingredients to create a unique and healthy drinking cacao range. This product is designed to deepen spiritual experiences and enhance wellbeing, crafted with love, gratitude, and blessings. It is promoted as a tool to calm the mind, relax the nervous system, and open the heart to the medicine of cacao. The cacao is suitable for use in spiritual practices to improve wellbeing, enhance intuition, and deepen the connection to self, spirit, and nature.
Key features and benefits of the Sacred Taste Ceremonial Cacao include:
- 100% organic ingredients
- Refined sugar-free
- Gluten-free
- Preservative-free
- Dairy-free
- Vegan
- Known to calm the mind, elevate mood, enhance productivity, relax the nervous system, increase awareness, deepen connection, and provide sustainable energy
- Wild-crafted, ethically sourced, and regenerative cacao
Phone: 03 5973 6466
Email: info@glutenfreefoods.com.au
Website: https://glutenfreefoods.com.au/
Cacao Collective
Cacao Collective is an Australian-based company specialising in ceremonial grade cacao, marketed as a healthy coffee alternative. Their product is rich in essential minerals, powerful antioxidants, and mood-boosting compounds, making it an ideal wellness drink. The cacao offered by Cacao Collective is designed to provide high energy without the crash typically associated with caffeine, enhancing mood, focus, and creativity. It's also noted for its delicious chocolatey taste and nutrient-packed content. The website features positive feedback from customers who have successfully replaced coffee with Cacao Collective's ceremonial cacao, highlighting its benefits in reducing anxiety and enhancing overall wellbeing.
Features offered by Cacao Collective include:
- Ceremonial grade cacao as a wellness drink and coffee alternative
- Products packed with essential minerals, antioxidants, and mood-boosting compounds
- A promise of high energy without the jitters or midday crash
- A focus on enhancing mood, focus, and creativity
- A commitment to ethical sourcing and supporting communities: With every bag sold, Cacao Collective donates one meal to a person in need through their partnership with Project Peru
Email: hello@cacaocollective.com.au
Website: https://www.cacaocollective.com.au/
FolkStore
Folkstore offers Ceremonial Cacao Hot Chocolate, a product crafted by Cacao Mumma. This ceremonial grade cacao is made from 100% whole Criollo cacao beans, hand-chopped into chunks, and comes in a 250-gram package. It is described as an elixir that awakens the higher self and opens the heart chakra. Unlike regular cacao powder, this ceremonial grade cacao contains the whole bean, including cacao butter, which carries the beneficial components of cacao. Sourced from a small family-run farm in Bali, the beans are handpicked, sun-dried, and traditionally stone crushed into a paste, emphasising the organic farming process and the effort put into each product. This ceremonial grade cacao is distinct from standard drinking cocoa, which is often heavily processed and stripped of nutrients.
Benefits of the Ceremonial Cacao Hot Chocolate include:
- Made from 100% whole Criollo cacao beans
- Hand-chopped and traditionally processed
- Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Known to boost mood, clear the mind, and increase energy
- Enhances blood flow and cardiovascular health
- Supports emotional release and increases serotonin levels
- High in antioxidants and a great source of plant-based magnesium
- Comes with a recipe for preparation
Email: info@folkstore.com.au
Website: https://www.folkstore.com.au
The Functional Joint
TheFunctionalJoint offers Cacao Mumma Ceremonial Cacao, a product sourced from an Australian company that specialises in wild-grown West Balinese cacao. This cacao comes directly from farmers who have owned the land for generations and hold ceremonies with the plant at all its stages. The cacao trees are traditional Criollo trees, cared for and harvested without the use of sprays or chemicals. Each bean is handpicked, sun-dried, and traditionally stone crushed into a paste. This raw cacao is described as nature's multivitamin, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is known to boost mood, provide clarity of mind, and increase energy without the coffee crash. Additionally, its high antioxidant content makes it beneficial for the skin, being 40 times richer in antioxidants than blueberries and the highest plant source of magnesium.
Key features and benefits of Cacao Mumma Ceremonial Cacao include:
- Sourced from wild-grown West Balinese cacao
- Handpicked and traditionally processed Criollo beans
- Free from sprays and chemicals
- Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Mood-boosting, mind-clearing, and energy-increasing without a crash
- High in antioxidants, beneficial for skin health
- The highest plant source of magnesium
Email: hello@thefunctionaljoint.com.au
Website: https://www.thefunctionaljoint.com.au
Ceremonial cacao is a pure form of chocolate, much less processed than the cocoa used in standard chocolate bars. It's made from whole cacao beans and is known for its rich, complex flavors and health benefits. Traditionally used in spiritual and ceremonial contexts, it's believed to open the heart and deepen meditative experiences.
Melbourne boasts a variety of shops and cafes that offer ceremonial cacao. These can be found in various neighborhoods known for their vibrant food scenes, such as Fitzroy, Carlton, and the CBD. Many of these places also host cacao ceremonies and workshops.
Ceremonial cacao is rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and other minerals. It's known to boost mood, enhance focus and creativity, and improve cardiovascular health. Unlike coffee, it provides a gentle energy boost without the jitteriness or crash.
Yes, most people can safely enjoy ceremonial cacao. However, those with chocolate allergies, caffeine sensitivities, or certain health conditions should consult with a healthcare provider first. It's also advised to consume it in moderation due to its potency and caffeine content.
Ceremonial cacao is much less processed than the cocoa in regular hot chocolate and doesn't contain added sugars or milk solids. Its preparation and consumption are often part of a mindful or spiritual practice, making the experience more about connection and introspection than just enjoying a hot drink. The flavor is also richer and more complex than typical hot chocolate.
